Magnetic toy trapeze



1953 J. c. YOUNG 2,648,158

MAGNETIC TOY TRAPEZE Filed March 11, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR V BY ATTORNEYQ Aug. 11, 1953 J. c. YOUNG MAGNETIC TOY TRAPEZE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 11, 1953 INVENTOR Vac/x7 1 f Caw/ ATTORNEYS Aug. 11, 1953 J. c. YOUNG 2,643,158

I MAGNETIC TOY TRAPEZE Filed March 11, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 11, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MAGNETIC TOY TRAPEZE Jay Carl Young, Angler, N. 0.

Application March 11, 1953, Serial No. 341,637

13 Claims.

This invention relates to a mechanical toy in the form of a trapeze employing a plurality of figures representing trapeze performers.

It is an object of the invention to provide a mechanical toy having a plurality of trapezes which may be constructed very cheaply of a minimum of parts.

It is an additional object of the invention to provide an amusement device for children in which the several parts of the device may be quickly assembled and disassembled for shipment purposes, which may be sold in knockeddown form, and which may be assembled at the place of use.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a framework for supporting a plurality of trapezes and one or more figures with an armature unit and a magnetic unit, one of said units being mounted on said trapeze and another of said units being mounted on said figure.

Other objects of the invention will appear throughout the following description and from an inspection of the drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of one form of the invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a second form of the invention;

Figure 3 is a front elevation of one of the fig ures used;

Figure 4 is a side elevation of the form shown in Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a front elevation of a second form of figure;

Figure 5 is a front elevation of a third form of figure;

Figure 7 is a front elevation of a fourth form of figure, and

Figure 8 is a partly diagrammatic View of a trapeze employing an electromagnet, and the connections thereto.

Referring to Figure 1, the letter A represents the framework as a whole. This framework supports trapezes such as end trapeze I, a center trapeze 2, and an opposite end trapeze 3 located on the opposite side of trapeze I.

The framework preferably consists of end uprights 4 and 5 having bases 6 and I, respectively. The upper ends of the uprights are connected to each other by longitudinal frame members 8 and 9, and said members are connected to each other by transverse supports II), II and I2. Supports I0 and I2 are preferably fixed to the framework but may be removable, and support II, while preferably removable, is, in any event, rotatable with regard to the longitudinal memr rungs 40 to 44, each inclusive.

bers. These members support trapezes I, 2, and 3. Trapezes I, 2, and 3 are provided with ropes or simulated ropes I3, I4, and I5 and supporting bars or rungs I6, I! and I8, respectively. Selected ones or all of the bars or rungs are permanent magnets, preferably made of .Alnico metal, a product of the General Electric Company.

The transverse support II, and by means of it the central trapeze, is caused to oscillate or swing back and forth when the knobs 41 and 48 are turned alternately in opposite directions, thus simulating the back and forth movements of the trapeze when used by a trapeze artist.

In the second form of the invention, as illustrated in Figure 2, a more elaborate trapeze act may be performed. In this form, B indicates the framework as a whole. This framework supports a plurality of trapeze members I9, 20, 2I, 22 and 23. These are supported by end uprights 24 and 25 on bases 26 and 2 I which are connected at their upper ends to longitudinal frame members 28 and 29. The trapezes I9 to 23, inclusive, are supported by transverse supports 30 to 34, inclusive, having ropes to 39 and supporting bars or Preferably, the majority of these bars or rungs are permanent magnets composed of Alnico metal, although all of them may be of such metal or none of them may be made of magnetic material, according to the constructions of the various figures representing trapeze artists, hereinafter to be described.

Trapeze 2 I, as stated above, is supported from, a transverse support 32'. This support is rotatable in the longitudinal frame members 28 and 29 and is provided with knobs and 46 keyed or otherwise fixedly secured to support 32, whereby when either or both of these knobs are rotated by the fingers, the support 32 will be caused to rotate or oscillate and the trapeze will thus be caused to oscillate also.

When magnets are used for the supporting bars of one or more of the trapezes I to 3, inclusive, of the first form of the invention; or for trapezes I9 to 23, inclusive, of the second form of the invention, the supporting bars or rungs which are of Alnico metal magnetic material may be of different strengths. This is most easily effected by making the rungs of different diameters.

Referring to Figure 3, the figure represented by the numeral 49 is a trapeze artist having hands 50 and El, arms 52 and 53, legs Maud 55, and feet 56 and 5'8. The arms of the trapeze artist are provided with metal strips 58 and 59 preferably of sheet steel, or other easily bendable magnetically susceptible material. As will be noted by reference to this figure, the fingers of the hands are partially closed, so that the figure may be suspended from a trapeze rung but may be easily removed therefrom. This figure is provided with U-shaped metal inserts 60 and SI that may be attached to the underside of the feet by bendable tabs 62 and 83.

The other trapeze artist figures disclose variations of the structure of the figur shown in Figure 3. For instance, in Figure 5, the trapeze artist is of the same construction as that shown in Figure 3, except that the figure 64 is provided with magnetic feet 65 and 66, the underside of which provide flattened portions 61 and 58. These feet, including the flattened portions thereof, are constructed of Alnico magnetic material.

In Figure 6, the trapeze artist 69, as distinguished from those shown in Figures 3, 4 and 5, is provided with metal hands I and II having flattened upper portions I2 and I3, and metal feet 14 and I having flattened portions I6 and TI. This figure is to be used with trapezes, the rungs of which will be of magnetic material.

Instead of using rungs consisting of Alnico metal Figure 5, a trapeze artist I9 may be used where the several trapeze rungs each consists of an unmagnetized metal bar. In the Figure 7 construction, the hands 80 and BI are of magnetic material and are provided with flat portions 82 and 83, and the feet 84 and 85 are of magnetic material and have flat portions 86 and 81.

Instead of using rungs consisting of Alnico metal magnets, one or more of the rungs may be provided with an electromagnet as illustrated somewhat diagrammatically in Figure 8. In this figure, the trapeze 88 is supported from a transverse support 89 and consists of ropes 90 and a supporting bar or rung 9|. This rung has mounted in it windings 92 and an iron core 93 from which the trapeze artist is suspended. Connected to the windings 92 are wires 84 that lead to a switch 85 and a source of current 96. The operation is as follows: Assuming that the supporting bar I6 of trapeze I is of some non-metallic material such as wood, and supporting bars I! and I8 are of magnetic material such as Alnico magnetized metal, the same or of different diameters, the hooked ends 50 and 5| of the trapeze artist shown in Figure 3 are placed over bar I6 with the figure facing away from trapezes 2 and 3. Trapeze 2 is then caused to oscillate back and forth by the manual operation of knobs 41 and 48. The upward and outward motion of trapeze 2, due to the crescent shape of the artist as he hangs from trapeze I, will cause the trapeze artist to move up and away from trapeze I. This is due to the fact that the bar or rung II of trapeze 2, due to the length of ropes I4, strikes the feet of the figure as it is suspended from trapeze I and gives it a slight oscillating movement. As the bar I'I reaches the upper limit of its movement during each oscillation, it will strike the figure and cause it to have a slight oscillation, and will tend to lift the hooked hands off the bar I6. During one of these movements, the bar I! will cause the man to disengage his hands from bar I8 and to hang from his feet from bar II of trapeze 2. The oscillation of trapese 2 is continued, so as to cause the figure to strike trapeze 3; i. e., the metal sleeve or strips 58 and 59 engage the magnetic bar I8 of trapeze 3. The figure will then be transferred to trapeze 3, the figure being suspended on the bar by means of the hooked-shaped hands of the figure.

In another form of the invention wherein the structure is the same as that shown in Figure 1 except for the construction of the several trapeze bars, the trapeze bar of trapeze I may be of wood or unmagnetized metal, trapeze 2 of unmagnetized metal, and the bar of trapeze 3 is a permanent magnet. In this form, the trapeze artist shown in Figure 5 may be used, wherein magnetic feet, hooked hands, and metal sleeves are provided. The action is precisely the same, and the principal difference of construction is that the magnetized feet of the man will grasp the unmagnetized bar on trapeze 2, instead of having a magnetized bar of trapeze 2 engage the U-shaped feet of the artist shown in Figure 1.

Another form of the invention but using the same framework and trapeze arrangements, would include the trapeze artist shown in Figure 6 who is provided with metal hands and feet. When using this figure, bars IS, IT, and I8 would. all be magnets in this construction, and such magnets would preferably be of different strengths. The figure would be placed with his metal hands engaging the underside of bar I6 of trapeze I, as seen in Figure 6. In this construction, the figure need not be crescent--shaped in side elevation. Oscillation of trapeze 2 would cause the magnetic bar of that magnet to engage the feet of the figure and swing the figure away from trapeze I and toward trapeze 3. Several oscillations of trapeze 2 would cause the figure to finally engage the bar of trapeze 3.

The magnetism of the bar of magnet I holds the figure originally in a vertical position. This bar is not as strong as the bar of trapeze 2, so that when said latter bar is swung to engage the feet of the figure, the figure is released from trapeze I, and the figure swings by its feet from trapeze 2 until the metal hands thereof strike the bar of trapeze 3 which is a bar of stronger.mag netic force than the bar of trapeze 2. The figures feet, therefore, break loose from trapeze 2, and the figure is held by trapeze 3.

It will be noted that in this construction, bar I! is stronger than bar I6, and bar I8 is stronger that bar II of trapezes I, 2, and 3. Referring to the structure shown in Figure 2, the trapeze I8 has a bar of magnetic material, trapeze 20 has a bar of wood or unmagnetized metal, bar of trapeze 2I is of magnetized metal, bar of trapeze 22 is of magnetized metal, and bar of trapeze 23 is also of magnetized metal. The trapeze artist suspended from trapeze I9 has hands of magnetized metal and metal hook-shaped feet, and the figure supported from trapeze 28 has metal hook-shaped hands and metal feet of inverted U-shaped configuration, and need not be necessarily of crescent shape, as viewed from the side thereof,

The figure is placed with hook-shaped hands on trapeze 20. The second figure is placed with metal feet touching and suspended by magnetic bar 48. Trapeze 2| is then oscillated by means of knob 55 and 46, so that this trapeze strikes the feet of the second-named figure; namely, the figure supported by trapeze 20. The upward and outward motion of trapeze 28 due to the crescent shape of the figure, causes him to go up and away from the trapeze. He is then suspended by the feet on trapeze 2 I. The oscillation of trapeze 2I is continued so that the metal hands of the figure on this trapeze contact the magnetic hands of the second figure which is hanging from trapeze I9, leaving both swinging from trapeze 2I. The first figure is hanging by his feet from trapeze 2|, and the second figure is hanging from '5 the hands of the first figure, due to the fact'that the hands of the second figure are of magnetic material. Continued oscillation of trapeze 2| will cause the metal feet of the second man, namely, the lowermost man, to contact trapeze 23. The hook-shaped feet grasp the trapeze 23 and break the connection between the first and second fi ure, leaving the first figure still hanging from trapeze 2|. This trapeze is again oscillated, so that the first figure strikes the magnetic bar of trapeze 22 with the metal hook-shaped hands. This breaks the first figure away from trapeze 2| and leaves this figure suspended from trapeze 22.

It will be seen, therefore, that what happens is that the figure on trapeze is picked up by trapeze 2|, and continued oscillation of trapeze 2| causes this figure suspended from it to pick up the figure suspended from trapeze I9. Continued oscillation of trapeze 2| transfers the figure that was originally suspended from trapeze l9 to trapeze 23, and further continued oscillation of trapeze 2| transfers the figure which was originally suspended from trapeze 20 to trapeze 22.

The whole operation is a very life-like one and closely simulates the actions of trapeze artists who are operating with a multiplicity of trapezes, in this case, five trapezes.

The variations described in regard to Figure 1 also apply to the structure shown in Figure 2. For instance, the figures shown in Figures 3, 4, 5, and 6 may be used with either the structure shown in Figure 1 or the structure shown in Figure 2, and as indicated above, several figures of different types may be used in connection with the structure of either Figure 1 or Figure 2.

It will be understood that in the typical layout, one trapeze is of non-metallic material, and the other trapezes have bars of magnetic material, such as Alnico metal units of different strength, and the figures are provided with metal inserts or of material which is attracted by said Alnico metal units. However, this arrangement may be reversed by providing the figures, namely, the trapeze artists, with Alnico metal inserts and a plurality of the trapeze bars will then be made of metallic material attracted by said Alnico units.

Speaking generally, one or more of said trapezes has armature unit means or magnetic unit means, and one or more of said figures is provided with the armature means. In other words, the preferred form of the invention includes a plurality of trapezes having magnetic unit means. These unit means may be either permanent magnets of Alnico type metal, or they may be electromagnets of the type shown in Figure 8, and the figure or figures will be provided with the armature unit means which is attracted by the magnetic unit means. It is, however, within the scope of the present invention to provide the figure or figures with the magnetic unit means, and this preferably will be of the permanent magnet type of magnetic unit. Two or more of the trapezes will then be provided with bars which will constitute the armature unit means.

The above description and drawings disclose several embodiments of the invention, as specific language has been employed in describing the several figures. It will, nevertheless, be understood that no limitations of the scope of the invention are thereby contemplated, and that various alterations and modifications may be made such as would occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as: new and what is desired to be secured for Letters Patent is:

I claim:

1. A magnetic toy amusement device comprising aframework, a plurality'of trapezes supported by said framework, a figure of a trapeze artist, said plurality of trapezes including a pair of trapezes located adjacent to each other, at least one of said trapezes being swingable, whereby said trapeze artist may be transferred from one.

trapeze to an adjacent trapeze, armature unit means, and Alnico magnetic unit means, one Of said unit means being mounted on at least one of said trapezes and the other of said unit'means being mounted on said figure.

2. A magnetic toy amusement device comprising a framework, a plurality of trapezes supported by said framework, a figure of a trapeze artist, said plurality of trapezes including a pair of trapezes located adjacent to each other, at least one of said trapezes being swingable, whereby said trapeze artist may be transferred from one trapeze to an adjacent trapeze, armature unit means, and magnetic unit means, one of said unit means being mounted on at least two of said trapezes and the other of said unit means being mounted on said figure, said magnetic unit means including permanent magnetic material of Alnico metal.

3. A magnetic toy amusement device comprising a framework, a plurality of trapezes supported by said framework, a figure of a trapeze artist, said plurality of trapezes including a pair of trapezes located adjacent to each other, at least one of said trapezes being swingable, whereby said trapeze artist may be transferred from one trapeze to an adjacent trapeze, Alnico magnetic unit means mounted on at least one of said trapezes, and armature means mounted on said figure.

4. A magnetic toy amusement device comprisinga framework, a plurality of trapezes supported by said framework, a figure of a trapeze artist, said plurality of trapezes including a pair of trapezes located adjacent to each other, at least one of said trapezes being swingable, whereby said trapeze artist may be transferred from one trapeze to an adjacent trapeze, electromagnetic unit means mounted on at least one of said trapezes, and armature means mounted on said figure.

5. A magnetic toy amusement device comprising a framework, a'plurality of trapezes supported by said framework, a figure of a trapeze artist, said plurality of trapezes including a pair of trapezes located adjacent to each other, at least one of said trapezes being swingable, whereby said trapeze artist may be transferred from one trapeze to an adjacent'trapeze, Alnico magnetic unit means mounted on at least one of said trapezes, and armature means mounted on said figure at the extremities thereof.

6. A magnetic toy amusement device comprising a framework, a plurality of trapezes supported by said framework, at least one figure of a trapeze artist, said plurality of trapezes including a pair of trapezes located adjacent to each other, at least one of said trapezes being swingable, whereby said trapeze artist may be transferred from one trapeze to an adjacent trapeze, armature unit means mounted on at least one of said trapezes, and Alnico magnetic unit means mounted on at least one of said figures.

7. A magnetic toy amusement device comprising a framework, a plurality of trapezes supported by said framework, a figure of a trapeze artist, said plurality of trapezes including a pair of trapezes located adjacent to each other, at least one of said trapezes being swingable, whereby said trapeze artist may be transferred from One trapeze to an adjacent trapeze, electromagnetic unit means mounted on at least one of S d trapezes, armature means mounted on said figure, said magnetic unit means including a bar on Said trapeze having windings and a core with a downwardly facing magnetic surface; a source of Current, a switch, and electrical connecting means electrically connecting the same to said windings.

8. A magnetic toy amusement device comprising a plurality of trapezes, means for supporting the same in line with each other, a figure of a trapeze artist, said plurality of trapezes including a pair of trapezes located adjacent to each other, at least one of which trapezes is swingable, whereby said trapeze artist may be transferred from one trapeze to the adjacent trapeze, each of said trapezes having a bar constructed at least in part of magnetic material of Alnico metal, each of said bars having progressively stronger magnetic characteristics whereby the bar of the trapeze at one side has comparatively weak magnetic characteristics, the bar of the next trapeze in line has stronger magnetic characteristics and the bar of the next trapeze in line has stronger magnetic characteristics than that of either of the other bars, and means for oscillating one of said trapezes, said figure having surfaces which coact magnetically with said trapezes whereby the said surfaces of said figure may be caused to engage successively the magnetic bars of said trapezes upon the oscillation of one of said trapezes.

9. A magnetic toy amusement device comprising a plurality of trapezes, means for supporting the same in line with each other, a figure of a trapeze artist, said plurality of trapezes including a pair of trapezes located adjacent to each other, at least one of which trapezes is swingable, whereby said trapeze artist may be transferred from one trapeze to the adjacent trapeze, each of said trapezes having a bar constructed at least in part of magnetic material of Alnico metal, each of said bars having progressively stronger magnetic characteristics whereby the bar of the trapeze at one side has comparatively weak magnetic characteristics, the bar of the next trapeze in line has stronger magnetic characteristics and the bar of the next trapeze in line has stronger magnetic characteristics than that of either of the other bars, means for oscillating one of said trapezes, and said figure having an armature at each of the extremities thereof, whereby the said armature of said figure may be caused to engage successively the magnetic bars of said trapezes upon the oscillation of one of said trapezes.

10. A magnetic toy amusement device comprising a framework, a plurality of trapezes supported by said framework, at least one of said trapezes being swingably mounted on said framework, a figure of a trapeze artist, said plurality of trapezes including a pair of trapezes located adjacent to each other whereby said trapeze artist may be transferred from one trapeze to an adjacent trapeze, Alnico magnetic unit means mounted on at least one of said trapezes, armature means mounted on said figure, said figure having extended hooked hands, and said armature means thereon including metallic sleeves and feet of magnetic material.

11. A magnetic toy amusement device comprising a framework, a plurality of trapezes supported by said framework, at least one of said trapezes being swingably mounted on said framework, a figure of a trapeze artist, said plurality of trapezes including a pair of trapezes located adjacent to each other whereby said trapeze artist may be transferred from one trapeze to an adjacent trapeze, electromagnetic unit means mounted on at least one of said trapezes, armature means mounted on said figure, said figure having extended hooked hands, and said armature means thereon including metallic sleeves and feet of magnetically attractable material.

12. A magnetic toy amusement device comprising a framework, a plurality of trapezes supported by said framework, at least one of said trapezes being swingably mounted on said framework, a figure of a trapeze artist, said plurality of trapezes including a pair of trapezes located adjacent to each other whereby said trapeze artist may be transferred from one trapeze to an adjacent trapeze, Alnico magnetic unit means mounted on at least one of said trapezes, armature means mounted on said figure, said figure having extended hooked hands, and said armature means thereon including metal sleeves and feet having U-shaped metallic inserts.

13. A magnetic toy amusement device comprising a framework, a plurality of trapezes supported by said framework, at least one of said trapezes being swingably mounted on said framework, a figure of a trapeze artist, said plurality of trapezes including a pair of trapezes located adjacent to each other whereby said trapeze artist may be transferred from one trapeze to an adjacent trapeze, electromagnetic unit means, a trapeze bar, said means including coil means forming a part of said bar mounted on at least one of said trapezes, armature means mounted on said figure, said figure having extended hooked hands, and said armature means thereon including metal sleeves and feet having U-shaped metallic inserts.

JAY CARL YOUNG.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 7 1,515,146 Clark Nov. 11, 1924 2,107,672 Lang Feb. 8, 1938 2,445,387 Davis July 20, 1948 

